Anthony Fallacaro wasn't necessarily looking for a change, but the multidimensional college athletic director found one to his liking.

After six years at Division II Post University in Waterbury, Fallacaro, 41, has moved on to Division II Southern New Hampshire University, which competes in the Northeast-10 Conference and is located in Manchester, N.H.

He succeeds longtime Penmen AD Joseph "Chip" Polak, who retired after 28 years at the school. Fallacaro and his wife, Rori, moved to Manchester in late May.

"I would not be in this position without the solid six years of experience I had at Post of dealing with budgets and money-crunching and maximizing every penny to help build and grow the university," said Fallacaro.

Fallacaro has plenty of experience of dealing with a limited budget and yet adding seven sports: sprint football, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's outdoor track, and men's and women's swimming.

"That's unusual," said Fallacaro of adding sports. "Today, a lot of colleges are cutting sports."

Among the sports Post added during Fallacaro's tenure was sprint football, which has brought a lot of interest and revenue to the school over the past three years. The Eagles will play home football games on cam-

See FALLACARO, Page 9B

pus this year.

Fallacaro estimated that Post went from 125 athletes to about 275 when the seven sports were added. Some athletes play multiple sports for the Eagles. He also oversaw major renovations to LaMoy Field, the Eagles' primary outdoor practice and athletic facility.

A Bronx, N.Y., native, Fallacaro played baseball and was a catcher at St. John's, from which he graduated in 1994. He began his career as an assistant AD at St. John's from 2003-05, and became the AD at Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn, N.Y., a year later before moving on to Post.

Coming to Connecticut was a natural progression for his career and a move made easier by the fact that he has relatives living in Fairfield County.

As Fallacaro was about to enter his seventh year at Post, a friend suggested he apply at Southern New Hampshire. A national search was underway, and Fallacaro became the front-runner in April.

During the interview process, Adelphi was also looking for an AD, and some of Fallacaro's former colleagues at St. John's recommended him.

But Fallacaro said he declined, saying that he had already gone through the long interview process, meeting every single department throughout the campus and felt a loyalty to see the process through without compromise. On May 27, he was introduced as the new man in charge.

Though he has signed only a one-year deal, Fallacaro sees a long tenure and bright future ahead with the Penmen, who are in the process of upgrading their facilities and adding sports.

"I have never had a multiyear deal, so I'm used to that," said Fallacaro on Tuesday. "I have been here only a few weeks and am even more convinced that this was the right move for me at this time."

Known for securing lucrative deals with sneaker and uniform apparel companies while at Post, Fallacaro is evaluating what he will need to do in New Hampshire. He is not planning on any major changes. He has already met most of the coaching staff.

Post's annual athletics budget is in the neighborhood of $5 million to 6 million, noted Fallacaro, while Southern New Hampshire is in the $8 million to 10 million range.

"The idea of renovations and plans for Southern New Hampshire University to build and grow made this an attractive job," said Fallacaro. "The school is adding four new women sports (field hockey, track, golf and bowling) over the next two years. There's also a feasibility study and a strategic plan to improve the indoor and outdoor facilities."

The Penmen basketball facility seats about 2,500 compared to about 150 at Post's Drubner Center. While there was talk and plans to study a facility upgrade at Post over the past decade, there are no immediate plans for expansion.

"That was frustrating," admitted Fallacaro.

What he will miss most about Post is the friendships and bonds he had with the coaching staff and university support cast, whom he said he will miss dearly.

"There is a great corps of coaches, and the athletic program would not be nearly as successful if it weren't for them," he said. "They are great people. I consider myself a people person and understand the value of the institution and the folks who work for me. I would value their input. You can't make decisions without everyone with you and for you."

As soon as Fallacaro was introduced as the Penmen's new AD, former Post men's basketball coach Mike Donnelly, now at Northeast-10 Conference foe Southern Connecticut State University, called to congratulate him.

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